Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam deputy director Lai Xuan Thanh said this was a positive sign thanks to a promising market and favourable conditions offered by Vietnam’s government.

Vietnam’s aviation industry offers rich potential with 14 per cent growth in 2011 and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) forecast that by 2014, Vietnam would become the world’s third fastest growing market for air passengers and cargo, just behind China and Brazil.

By 2015 there would be 34-36 million passengers coming to Vietnam, and by 2019 that figure would reach 52-59 millions.

The Ministry of Finance has also done its bit to attract airlines by reducing services fees, by up to 50 per cent, on international airlines’ fees to Vietnam and allowing international firms to exploit low-peak hours,

Recently, Finland’s Finnair appeared in Vietnam and selected East Sea Tourism Company as its general agent.

“Vietnam is one of important markets that the firm expects to open direct flights from Helsinki in the future”, said Finnair’s Southeast Asian Sales & Makerting director Retteri Kostemaa.

From Vietnam, Finnair has cooperation with Vietnam Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Jetstar to provide transits for its flights to Helsinki, other Finnish cities and more than other 60 destinations within Europe.

On the occasion of its first operation in Vietnam, Finnair has offered attractive deals on the routes from either Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City to Helsinki, other its domestic destinations or all around Europe.

Earlier, the Philippines’ largest airlines Cebu Pacific opened two weekly flights on its new Manila-Hanoi route, became the only airline to operate direct flights between Manila and Hanoi, after exploiting the Manila-Ho Chi Minh City route successfully in 2011.

Meanwhile, in March, the US’ United and Japan’s ANA declared to expand trans-Pacific price and route map cooperation on the Vietnam-US route from April, 1 2012.

With such cooperation, Vietnamese passengers have choice to transit in either Hong Kong or Japan on the route.

However, the domestic scene is less promising with Indochina Airlines going belly up and low-cost Jetstar Pacific, after years counting losses, transferred a 70 per cent stake to Vietnam Airlines.

Even Vietnam Airlines is restructuring and privatising to make itself more efficient in a tough operating environment.